CHAPTER IV. MR. YORKE (continued).

allytoaquietwife.Hethoughtsolongasawomanwassilentnothingailedher,andshewantednothing.Ifshedidnotcomplainofsolitude,solitude,howevercontinued,couldnotbeirksometoher.Ifshedidnottalkandputherselfforward,expressapartialityforthis,anaversiontothat,shehadnopartialitiesoraversions,anditwasuselesstoconsulthertastes.Hemadenopretenceofcomprehendingwomen,orcomparingthemwithmen.Theywereadifferent,probablyaveryinferior,orderofexistence.Awifecouldnotbeherhusband'scompanion,muchlesshisconfidante,muchlesshisstay.Hiswife,afterayearortwo,wasofnogreatimportancetohiminanyshapeandwhensheoneday,ashethought,suddenly—forhehadscarcelynoticedherdecline—but,asothersthought,gradually,tookherleaveofhimandoflife,andtherewasonlyastill,beautiful-featuredmouldofclayleft,coldandwhite,intheconjugalcouch,hefelthisbereavement—whoshallsayhowlittle?Yet,perhaps,morethanheseemedtofeelitforhewasnotamanfromwhomgriefeasilywrungtears. Hisdry-eyedandsobermourningscandalizedanoldhousekeeper,andlikewiseafemaleattendant,whohadwaiteduponMrs.Helstoneinhersickness,andwho,perhaps,hadhadopportunitiesoflearningmoreofthedeceasedlady'snature,ofhercapacityforfeelingandloving,thanherhusbandknew.Theygossipedtogetheroverthecorpse,relatedanecdotes,withembellishmentsofherlingeringdecline,anditsrealorsupposedcause.Inshort,theyworkedeachotheruptosomeindignationagainsttheausterelittleman,whosatexaminingpapersinanadjoiningroom,unconsciousofwhatopprobriumhewastheobject. Mrs.Helstonewashardlyunderthesodwhenrumoursbegantoberifeintheneighbourhoodthatshehaddiedofabrokenheart.Thesemagnifiedquicklyintoreportsofhardusage,and,finally,detailsofharshtreatmentonthepartofherhusband—reportsgrosslyuntrue,butnotthelesseagerlyreceivedonthataccount.Mr.Yorkeheardthem,partlybelievedthem.Already,ofcourse,hehadnofriendlyfeelingtohissuccessfulrival.Thoughhimselfamarriedmannow,andunitedtoawomanwhoseemedacompletecontrasttoMaryCaveinallrespects,hecouldnotforgetthegreatdisappointmentofhislifeandwhenheheardthatwhatwouldhavebeensoprecioustohimhadbeenneglected,perhapsabused,byanother,heconceivedforthatotherarootedandbitteranimosity. OfthenatureandstrengthofthisanimosityMr.Helstonewasbuthalfaware.HeneitherknewhowmuchYorkehadlovedMaryCave,whathehadfeltonlosingher,norwasheconsciousofthecalumniesconcerninghistreatmentofher,familiartoeveryearintheneighbourhoodbuthisown.HebelievedpoliticalandreligiousdifferencesaloneseparatedhimandMr.Yorke.Hadheknownhowthecasereallystood,hewouldhardlyhavebeeninducedbyanypersuasiontocrosshisformerrival'sthreshold. Mr.YorkedidnotresumehislectureofRobertMoore.Theconversationerelongrecommencedinamoregeneralform,thoughstillinasomewhatdisputativetone.Theunquietstateofthecountry,thevariousdepredationslatelycommittedonmill-propertyinthedistrict,suppliedabundantmatterfordisagreement,especiallyaseachofthethreegentlemenpresentdifferedmoreorlessinhisviewsonthesesubjects.Mr.Helstonethoughtthemastersaggrieved,theworkpeopleunreasonablehecondemnedsweepinglythewidespreadspiritofdisaffectionagainstconstitutedauthorities,thegrowingindispositiontobearwithpatienceevilsheregardedasinevitable.Thecuresheprescribedwerevigorousgovernmentinterference,strictmagisterialvigilancewhennecessary,promptmilitarycoercion. Mr.Yorkewishedtoknowwhetherthisinterference,vigilance,andcoercionwouldfeedthosewhowerehungry,giveworktothosewhowantedwork,andwhomnomanwouldhire.Hescoutedtheideaofinevitableevils.Hesaidpublicpatiencewasacamel,onwhosebackthelastatomthatcouldbebornehadalreadybeenlaid,andthatresistancewasnowadutythewidespreadspiritofdisaffectionagainstconstitutedauthoritiesheregardedasthemostpromisingsignofthetimesthemasters,heallowed,weretrulyaggrieved,buttheirmaingrievanceshadbeenheapedonthembya"corrupt,base,andbloody"government(thesewereMr.Yorke'sepithets).MadmenlikePitt,demonslikeCastlereagh,mischievousidiotslikePerceval,werethetyrants,thecursesofthecountry,thedestroyersofhertrade.Itwastheirinfatuatedperseveranceinanunjustifiable,ahopeless,aruinouswar,whichhadbroughtthenationtoitspresentpass.Itwastheirmonstrouslyoppressivetaxation,itwastheinfamous"OrdersinCouncil"—theoriginatorsofwhichdeservedimpeach